FIRST I would like to congratulate the Trusco Group for attempting to use Oshiwambo in its logo.
‘Oshili nawa’. This classic example shows how meanings could change in African languages if one does not follow the standard orthography for Oshikwanyama or Oshindonga.I guess the Trustco International probably meant ‘It is ok’ and if so, then the word Oshili should be divided Oshi li nawa.If you write it together then it means ‘truth’ so roughly what it says in its current form is Truth is ok/fine.This advert is seen everywhere and it is worrying that the proponents of African languages in Namibia don’t make a fuss about it.If this grammatical mistake was in English, every Namibian would point that out.Let us help each other, particularly those who want to promote our languages through marketing, and if you have something that you are not sure about it in Namibian languages, kindly cross-check with language teachers/experts, otherwise it will be too costly to rectify a simple word once it has been printed.Selma Taatu WindhoekThis classic example shows how meanings could change in African languages if one does not follow the standard orthography for Oshikwanyama or Oshindonga.I guess the Trustco International probably meant ‘It is ok’ and if so, then the word Oshili should be divided Oshi li nawa.If you write it together then it means ‘truth’ so roughly what it says in its current form is Truth is ok/fine.This advert is seen everywhere and it is worrying that the proponents of African languages in Namibia don’t make a fuss about it.If this grammatical mistake was in English, every Namibian would point that out.Let us help each other, particularly those who want to promote our languages through marketing, and if you have something that you are not sure about it in Namibian languages, kindly cross-check with language teachers/experts, otherwise it will be too costly to rectify a simple word once it has been printed.Selma Taatu Windhoek
